Friday, 25 July 2014

For the love of art

I've only been to Tate Modern three times. The first time was
just a few years after it opened, and I went with a friend I hadn't
seen for over a decade. We'd arranged a rendezvous on a hot, sunny
Spring afternoon on the Millennium Bridge, where we were relieved to
find we recognised each other without difficulty in spite of the
years that had passed. I got sunburnt whilst supping a pint outside at a nearby pub.

The last time was just a couple of years ago, where I went with
the same friend. We'd arranged a rendezvous on a wet, windy Spring
afternoon on the Millennium Bridge - recognition no longer a concern,
peering from under my umbrella as the heavens opened. We queued up
in the dark to see Damien Hirst's blingy 'For The Love Of God'
skull and visited every floor.

And the occasion in between was on my own - on a windy, sunny Autumm
morning, after an overnight stay in London following a
publisher's party (and should that sound like I live some kind of high-flying high life, it's the only one I've ever been to!) I was tired and a little worse for wear, but
still the visit confirmed my undying love for Max Ernst's 'Forest
and Dove'.

So tomorrow it'll be my fourth time... with lovely pals I haven't
seen for a few years... there's an exhibition of Matisse Cut Outs and I'd like to see the Malevich show... I'll wear
suncream and take an umbrella... and I'll blow a kiss to the
Millennium Bridge, to 'Forest and Dove', and to old friends.

The Millenium Bridge seems to have become rather an iconic spot for meeting people , I wonder if it's because if you don't like the look of someone you can continue walking whilst hiding behind a newspaper (or a handy umbrella or sun hat?) It always used to be the steps of the Tate, maybe it is the proximity of art as a potential icebreaker that has something to do with it?

Images

Please note - whilst most images shown here have been taken from my own illustrations and photos or scans I have taken of my own possessions, if you would like me to remove any other images for any reason please contact me directly at the email address for this blog and I will immediately oblige.